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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the law enforcement integrity unit in |
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the office of the attorney general. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 402.031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 402.031. LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY UNIT. (a) In this |
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section, "law enforcement corruption" means a violation of state or |
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federal criminal law committed in this state by: |
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(1) an individual elected, appointed, or employed to |
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serve as a peace officer for a governmental entity of this state |
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under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or |
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(2) a federal law enforcement officer performing |
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duties in this state. |
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(b) A law enforcement integrity unit is created within the |
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office of the attorney general to assist in the enforcement of laws |
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relating to law enforcement corruption. The unit shall: |
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(1) assist district attorneys and county attorneys in |
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the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement corruption; |
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(2) assist state agencies with the investigation of |
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complaints and administrative enforcement actions for law |
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enforcement corruption, including the assessment of an |
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administrative penalty or other administrative sanction; |
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(3) assist the United States Department of Justice or |
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any other appropriate federal department or agency in the |
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investigation and prosecution of law enforcement corruption; |
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(4) assist federal agencies with the investigation of |
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complaints and administrative enforcement actions for law |
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enforcement corruption, including the assessment of an |
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administrative penalty or other administrative sanction; and |
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(5) serve as a clearinghouse for information relating |
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to the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement corruption |
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in this state. |
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(c) To the extent allowed by law, a state agency or local law |
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enforcement agency shall cooperate with the law enforcement |
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integrity unit by providing information requested by the unit as |
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necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Information |
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disclosed under this subsection is confidential and not subject to |
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disclosure under Chapter 552. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2007, the attorney |
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general shall establish the law enforcement integrity unit under |
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Section 402.031, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |